Sin City Presents Magazine August 2016 Volume 3 Issue 8 - Page 58

The greatest threat from fireworks comes from those who choose to violate the law and use illegal fireworks usually purchased outside the valley. Illegal fireworks are characterized by the following:

Explode (fire crackers, cherry bombs, etc.)

Rocket (bottle rockets, roman candles, etc.)

Each year area law enforcement agencies actively seek illegal fireworks and confiscate thousands of pounds of pyrotechnics. In addition to forfeiting the fireworks themselves, persons in possession or using non Safe and Sane fireworks are cited and may be fined for the cost of disposal and, in the case where fireworks cause damage, may be required to pay restitution.

How to Handle Fireworks

Preparation

Use only Safe 'n' Sane fireworks and only the way they were designed

Have a pre-connected garden hose handy in case a fire breaks out

Maintain several five gallon buckets filled with water where you can place discharged fireworks

Coordinate lighting the items so that everyone in the group anticipates when they will be set off and is not surprised

Keep a close watch on children and pets. Make sure neither get close to items that are going off

Keep fireworks out of small children's hands (sparklers have been a popular item to give youngsters in the past, but they get hot enough to cause clothes to catch fire or bad skin burns)

If an item fails to light keep everyone away from it for a number of minutes (sometimes a fuse malfunctions enough to slow the ignition time down, but it ignites seconds later)

If a firework malfunctions or lands somewhere where it is not supposed to, make sure someone with a water supply can get to it and put it ou

If someone's clothes catch fire, help them to stop, drop, and roll. Any burns should be treated with cool water and gauze. If the burn blisters, seek medical help.

Afterwards

Place discharged fireworks in a bucket of water overnight to make certain they do not re-ignite

Check the area where fireworks were set off and conduct a wide sweep around the area (including roof tops) to make certain that no sparks or other heated parts remain that could cause something to ignite later.